Second man pleads guilty in Ashland home invasion

Friday

Oct 26, 2012 at 4:05 PMOct 26, 2012 at 4:07 PM

One of three men charged in breaking into an Ashland home in January and holding the occupant against his will while stealing money and property pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary today, Jackson County Circuit Court records show.

One of three men charged in breaking into an Ashland home in January and holding the occupant against his will while stealing money and property pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary today, Jackson County Circuit Court records show.

Michael Tracy III, 23, of Medford, had additional charges of aggravated theft, first-degree robbery and kidnapping dropped against him. It's not yet known when he will be sentenced.

Tracy broke in to a home in the 100 block of Alnutt Street in Ashland Jan. 13 with two other men. The group told the home's occupant they were armed and forced him into another room in the home. They then stole money and property before leaving.

Police said their investigation revealed the crime was not random and that the group knew what they were looking for. Police found and arrested Tracy in late April while he was driving. He told arresting officers he had been planning to turn himself in. Police found a large amount of money in lockbox at his home.

Ryan Williams, 20, of Medford, is also being charged as a party to the crime. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree robbery, aggravated theft, kidnapping and burglary. He has a trial date scheduled for Nov. 13, court records show.

Dylan Ashmun, 26, of Eagle Point, also participated and pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery earlier this week. He was sentenced to six years in prison and must pay more than $170,000 in restitution.

The sentence will run concurrently to Ashmun's 10-year sentence for manslaughter, stemming from an incident where he shot his roommate, 24-year-old Joseph Faaeteete, in the head with a shotgun on March 28 at 128 N. Buchanan Ave., Eagle Point. Ashmun and other individuals had been dry firing the shotgun at each other. At some point, the weapon was loaded, though who loaded it is not known. Ashmun fired the gun, and Faaeteete died. The death was originally reported as a suicide, but police arrested Ashmun as the shooter witness reports about the shooting conflicted.